System for Identifying One&#39;s Drinking Glass at a Party

ABSTRACT

A set of drinking glasses, preferably goblets, provided each with a prominent and permanent single number, letter, a combination and/or symbol from a sequential set of the same, which number, letter, combination symbol is etched, engraved or otherwise cut into the glass. The entire set can be distributed to guests at a dinner party such that each guest is provided with a unique symbol thereon and, yet, the other glasses are otherwise identical to one another. The guests will know the glass they have been served with and thus will know that they are meant to keep that glass and not drink from another glass of another guest. This is easily accomplished, once the glasses are distributed, by each guest having his or her own unique glass, i.e., a glass from the otherwise identical set with a unique, prominent and permanent symbol thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a set of drinking glasses which are uniquely identified to facilitate each drinker at a party identifying his or her own glass so as to eliminate drinker to drinker contamination and transfer of germs. A set of drinking glasses are preferably permanently engraved or etched with a unique set of alpha-numeric symbols. The set is then placed on the table for the dinner party or bar and as each drinker takes his or her first drink he or she will see the unique alpha-numeric symbol on their glass and a means is thus provided to the drinker to facilitate their recollection of the drinking glass that he or she first took a drink from. The unique identification symbol will allow many drinkers to drink and place their drink onto the table or counter top (or bar) and, yet, they and others will know whether the glass is theirs because they should only pick up for a drink a glass with their unique identifying symbol.

The present invention is thus a set of drinking glasses preferably used by a host for a dinner party. The set is provided with the unique preferably sequential identifying symbols, on a permanent basis engraved or etched therein, and, in this manner, people will become comfortable in the knowledge that their glass is the only one raised to their lips and no germs from others will be transferred by someone else accidentally picking up someone else's glass for a drink.

The present invention is meant as a permanent means for eliminating confusion as to which glass has been lifted to a party-goer's lips and, in that manner, hygiene and germ transference is minimized.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Different colored paper cups have been provided for children and adult parties.

However, by and large, those colored cups are means as mere variety of decoration although, to some degree, the different colors facilitate maintaining hygiene since a cup first imbibed by a party goer could be the same color as first imbibed by a second party goer. This is because the colors generally offered by the paper party manufacturer are limited and the number of unique colors (while the spectrum is technically available) is limited to the primary and intermediate colors since many party goers would not visually distinguish between, for example, a baby blue cup and a blue cup, assuming they actually remember the distinct color at the beginning of the party. Generally, they would not so remember unless someone points it out to them since one would not make the mental distinction unless you saw the two blue cups adjacent or near one another. Furthermore, many party-goers would not even make the connection between the color of the cup for their first drink and the need nor desirability for hygiene based on remembering the color of the cup. Rather, most party goers would just assume (unless told to the contrary) that the cup colors are mere decorative and the colors of no utility nor significance.

There is a need in the field of partying for a set of drinking vessels, preferably glasses, which are permanently engraved or etched with a sequential set of alpha-numeric symbols so that the party goers, when presented with their first glass, whether it is at a dinner party with a glass of wine, at a bar with a bottle of beer, or a backyard family party with a soda, the drinking vessel, the glass, is uniquely provided with one of a sequential set of alpha-numeric symbols which a) instantly tell the drinker that the number or symbol (generally letters of the alphabet) is to be remembered or at least is of sufficient uniqueness as to be recalled later and b) by ensuring that the drinkers are all provided with one of the set of vessels, substantially eliminates party guest to party guest cross germ contamination.

The prior art also provides a set of disc-like devices which have a radial slit from center to outside edge and can be slipped around the stem of the glass. Each disc is provided with a unique number, letter or color. When on the glass, the discs serve the function of ensuring that the drinker knows his or her own glass and in this manner, party guest to party guest cross germ contamination is reduced. The disc system serves the desired end result but suffers from certain perceived disadvantages. More specifically, the discs are not always remembered to be slipped over the stems of the glasses so some party guests will have uniquely identifiable glasses (those with the discs on the stems) and other glasses will not (because of the failure to slip the discs onto the glasses). Also, because these discs are not permanently secured to the glasses, a trouble maker (or evil person) can easily slip the disc from one glass and onto another. Thus, there is a need in the prior art, perceived first by the present inventor, for a permanent means for uniquely identifying each glass or drinking vessel in a set. The present invention satisfies this perceived need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in its preferred embodiment, is a set of glassware, with vertically extending stems separating the base from the liquid holding portion, with the base, stem, or goblet (drinking holding portion) provided with a single number, letter or symbol, from a sequential set. So, in the preferred embodiment, a set of 12 wine glasses are provided and each one of the set is provided with a number, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. The numbers could be replaced with letters, for example, A, B, C, D, E, . . . Z. The letters and numbers could be provided with a combination of letters and numbers, depending upon the size of the set, for example, A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3 . . . Z1, Z2, Z3. The unique set of sequential symbols could the names or symbols of the Zodiac, the individual States of the United States, years, etc.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a set of 12 wine goblets are packaged together into a gift set and each of the glasses of the set is provided with the numbers from 1 to 12. The numbers are permanently and prominently engraved, cut, and/or etched therein. In this manner, one first picking up the glass, for the first time, will easily recognize and come to remember the symbol on the glass. In this manner, he or she will not pick up another's glass since the symbol thereon will not match the symbol on the glass that they first picked up with the symbol thereon, as hopefully stored in the party-goer's short term memory.

The use of permanent engraving into the glasses is preferable to the use of the removable discs on a variety of levels but, for one, allows the glass to be washed, either by hand or in a machine, and the symbol is still on the glass for the next usage of the set. In addition, the use of prominent etching, engraving and/or cutting of the individual one of the set of symbols is attractive, not “tacky” and in this manner the party goer is more likely to remember his or her symbol upon getting the glass for the first time. The symbol looks attractive, decorative and, yet, is highly functional and permanent. It is believed that a set of these high quality glasses will become very popular and highly desired gift sets, for anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, etc.

Another feature of the present invention relates to the use of a distinct symbol, each from a sequential set of such symbols, etched, cut or engraved onto the drinking vessels, preferably wine goblets such that the symbols can be tactilely distinguished, one from another. In this manner, the drinking vessels can be easily distinguished by sight and feel. Of course, those without keen or any eyesight can then easily distinguish their drinking vessel or wine glass from the drinking vessel or wine glass of anther imbiber merely by first feeling the symbol on the original glass handed or given/provided to them and then, before each sip of a drink, feeling again the symbol to ensure that the same vessel/glass is in their hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a wine goblet made according to the present invention with a single symbol of a set of sequential symbols shown thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As best seen in FIG. 1, a wine goblet 10 is comprised of a base 12, a stem 14 and a liquid-holding bowl 16. The shapes of each can be widely varied, of course. The goblet 10 is one of a set of such goblets, preferably identical to one another with the exception of the unique symbol thereon. Preferably, the symbol 18, here shown as the number “2” is on the bowl 16, but, of course, the symbol 18 could be engraved, etched, or cut into the base 12 or the stem 14, or two or more of the elements. Many styles are thus available, including the shapes of the glasses or goblets and the font and symbols used on the glasses.

According to the present invention, however, each of the set (preferably 12 in a set) are provided with a single symbol of a known sequence of symbols. This will allow the goblet placed into the hand of the party goer to be easily identified and remembered in contrast to the other goblets held by other party goers.

In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the number of glasses in the set could be ten; could be 26 or many multiples of those or other numbers. So, as mentioned, the glasses could be etched or engraved with the numbers 1-10; 1-12; through XII; A through Z, A1 through Z26, etc. The numbers or letters or combinations could be etched or engraved into the base, the stem, the bowl or any combination. The size of the numbers or letters, the symbols, should however be prominent so that the party goer, when first provided with the glass, immediately recognizes the significance of the symbol or numbers/letters, i.e., they are intuitively told by seeing a distinctive number, letter or symbol that their glass is unique and that the unique number, letter or symbol needs to be remembered for avoiding drinker to drinker cross germ contamination. This is effectively and easily conveyed by providing the glasses with the permanent, prominent numbers, letters, combination thereof, i.e., the symbols, each glass having one such from a sequential set for all such glasses.

The entire set can be distributed to guests at a dinner party such that each guest is provided with a unique symbol thereon and, yet, the other glasses are otherwise identical to one another. The guests will know the glass they have been served with and thus will know that they are meant to keep that glass and not drink from another glass of another guest. This is easily accomplished, once the glasses are distributed, by each guest having his or her own unique glass, i.e., a glass from the otherwise identical set with a unique, prominent and permanent symbol thereon.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the drinking vessels are wine-like vessels, like goblets made from fine glass. Also according to the presently preferred embodiment, the drinking vessels or wine glasses are etched, cut or engraved with the individual symbols. The entire set of the glasses represents a sequential set, whether numbers, alphabet letters, combined alpha-numberics, a message comprised of numbers, subscripts for repeated letters, etc. The symbols can be that of the Zodiac, of the months of the year, of days of the week, etc. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the etching, cutting and/or engraving of the symbols into the glass vessels provides a distinct tactile feel to each symbol so that one can, without looking directly at the vessel, easily distinguish one vessel from another. This could be helpful in “tight” quarters where extension of the arm to “read” the vessel is uncomfortable, in socially delicate situations where one doesn't want the adjacent person to realize his or her personal desire for absolute hygiene and to eliminate person to person cross germ contamination; and also for sight impaired drinkers, whether as a consequence of drinking alcohol or merely visually impaired (even sightless) individuals. The combination of the visual look of the symbols and the tactile feel of the symbols on the drinking vessels provides a mechanism for allowing all to distinguish a drinking vessel from that of another attendee at the event where two or more persons are near to one another and drinking from vessels.

The present invention has been fully described in a manner which will allow one of ordinary skill how to make and use the same and, further, the inventor has shown by the specification herein the preferred and best mode for carrying out the invention. While the invention has been fully described hereinabove, the scope of the invention is not limited to the description set forth herein but, rather, by the appended claims, as those are interpreted by the Courts, taking full advantage of the scope of reasonable equivalents, as the Courts entitle the inventor such that he obtains that which he is entitled to. 

1. A set of substantially identical drinking vessels each provided with a unique, prominent and permanent symbol thereon taken from a sequential set of such symbols.
 2. A set as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vessels are glasses.
 3. A set as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vessels comprise a goblet shape comprised of a base, a stem and a bowl.
 4. A set as claimed in claim 3 wherein said symbol is on any one or more of said base, stem and bowl.
 5. A set as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vessels are glass goblets and said symbols are etched, engraved or cut therein.
 6. A set as claimed in claim 1 wherein said symbols provide a tactile feel to distinguish each of said symbols on said set of vessels.
 7. A set as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sequential set of such symbols is the numbers 1 through
 12. 8. A set as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sequential set of such symbols is the numbers 1-10.
 9. A set as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sequential set of such symbols is the Roman Numerals I through XII.
 10. A set as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sequential set of such symbols is a combination of alphabet letters and numbers.
 11. A set as claimed in claim 9 wherein said alphabet letters and numbers range from A1, A2 . . . A12 and end in Z1, Z2 . . . Z12.
 12. A set as claimed in claim 9 wherein said alphabet letters and numbers range from A1, A2 . . . A10 and end in Z1, Z2 . . . Z10.
 13. A set as claimed in claim 1 wherein said set of sequential symbols spell out a message or word.
 14. A set as claimed in claim 12 wherein said message is H A₁ P₁ P₂ Y₁ B I R T H D A₂ Y₂.
 15. A set as claimed in claim 12 wherein said message is H A₁ P₁ P₂ Y₁ A₂ N₁ N₂ I V E R S A₃ R Y₂. 